Policy & Program Development

New Adult Dental Services

Broadcast to All DPA Statewide Staff and DPA State Associates
From
DPA Policy and Program Development

New Adult Dental Services

Good News! On April 1, 2007, the Medicaid program began providing dental coverage for adults up to a total limit of $1,150 per year for dental care, such as exams and cleanings. This new coverage also includes fillings, crowns, root canals and dentures.

Medicaid still covers adult dental services for emergency pain relief and acute infection. These emergency dental services do not count against the annual limit.

Online Program Policy Manual Changes

TO ALL DPA STAFF, DPA STATE ASSOCIATES, AND
OCS ELIGIBILITY STAFF
from
The Policy and Program Development Team

The first manual changes have been completed for the Family Medicaid, Adult Public Assistance, and Aged, Disabled, and Long Term Care Medicaid online program policy manuals. Attached are PDF versions of the manual change descriptions and the sections that have been changed. The updated manuals are now available on the DPA website at http://dpaweb.hss.state.ak.us/.

New and Improved Online Program Policy Manuals

We are happy to announce that the four new and improved online program manuals are now available on the internal DPA website (DPAweb):

These new online manuals are interactive and user-friendly. We hope you find the new features and improvements helpful. Enhancements made to the manuals include index and glossary sections, a search function, cross-referencing and hyperlinks to help you find what you are looking for. Special features allow you to print manual sections, and add them to favorites. There is an email function but it is not working properly at this time. It should be available soon.

CHANGE IN PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING UIB INFORMATION

In early June we provided an interim procedure for obtaining information about Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) income. Since then, we have continued to work with Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) staff to develop a long-term solution. The requests for UIB information we have received from staff over the past few weeks have been very useful in this development.

Effective immediately, staff will now call the UI Support Section in DOLWD directly for information needed to anticipate UIB income. Their number is 465-4691. Staff no longer has to e-mail DPA Policy, and should not contact the UI Call Centers to request information.

Celebrating Success with Native Family Assistance Programs

In April, Alaska’s Legislature passed Senate Bill 51 (SB51) reauthorizing the Native Family Assistance Program. In passing this bill, the Legislature gave special recognition to AVCP, TCC, and T&H for their great success in operating NFAPs and for support in helping Native families leave welfare for employment and self-sufficiency. Recognition was also given to our Native partners providing welfare-to-work services in other regions of Alaska.

Interim Procedure/Guidance for New UIB Claims

BROADCAST TO ALL DPA STAFF AND STATE ASSOCIATES 6/2/2005
FROM POLICY AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND FIELD SERVICES

During the recent Learning Summits, we provided policy clarification regarding the anticipation of Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) income. As explained, when a new UIB claim has been established, workers must determine when this income will be received using information from Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). At the same time, DOLWD expressed concerns regarding the release of confidential Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) information by their UI Call Centers and the high volume of calls they received.

PFD Processing for 2004

The PFD season is fast approaching. Here's an update on how we will process cases this year.

PFD income and resources continue to be exempt for all programs except Food Stamps. Like last year, we will be anticipating receipt of PFD income for food stamp households. Determining eligibility for resource hold harmless will also be the same - households will be asked to estimate how much PFD money they expect to have left on November 1st.